Human Prehistoric Timeline

4.5 billion years ago: The beginning. Precambrian. The Precambrian accounts for 85% of geologic earth time.3.9 to 4.1 billion years ago: Life (cyanobacteria) begins. End of the Hadean Eon and the beginning of the Archaean Eon.2.5 billion years ago: End of the Archaean Eon and beginning of the Protoerozoic Eon.2.3 billion years ago: The first known ice age.1.8 to 2.1 billion years ago: First known eukaryotes (organism whose cells contain complex structures enclosed within membranes).750 million years ago: Beginning of “Snowball Earth” ice age
Time ???: Maybe 2.5 to maybe 6 million years ago, or somewhere in the middle, something happened and a few hominids started walking upright and thinking a little different then their progenitors, thus starting our rise to pre-dominance of the earth.

Bronze Age(4000 to 1200 BC)Written history begins about 3500-3000 BC
Iron Age(1200 BC) West Africa, perhaps Armenian area also. New evidence of Iron technology in India from about 1800 BC 02-12-11

From Wikipedia

Earlier than 200,000 BC

Homo ergaster: is an extinct species (or subspecies) of hominid that lived in eastern and southern Africa from the end of the Pliocene epoch to the early Pleistocene, about 1.8-1.3 million years ago. There is still disagreement on the subject of the classification, ancestry, and progeny of H. ergaster, but it is now widely thought (though not agreed) to be the direct ancestor of later hominids such as Homo heidelbergensis, Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis rather than Asian erectus. It is one of the earliest members of the genus Homo, possibly descended from, or sharing a common ancestor with, Homo habilis.

Homo heidelbergensis: (“Heidelberg Man”), is an extinct species of the genus Homo which may be the direct ancestor of both Homo neanderthalensis in Europe and Homo sapiens. The best evidence found for these hominids date between 600,000 and 400,000 years ago. H. heidelbergensis stone tool technology was very close to that of the Acheulean tools used by Homo erectus.

Homo erectus: is an extinct species of hominid that originated in Africa—and spread as far as China and Java—from the end of the Pliocene epoch to the later Pleistocene: about 1.8-.3 million years ago. There is still disagreement on the subject of the classification, ancestry, and progeny of H. erectus, with two major alternative hypotheses: erectus may be another name for Homo ergaster, and therefore the direct ancestor of later hominids such as Homo heidelbergensis, Homo neanderthalensis, and Homo sapiens; or it may be an Asian species distinct from African ergaster.
Originally migrated from Africa during the Early Pleistocene, possibly as a result of the operation of the Saharan pump, around 2.0 million years ago, and dispersed throughout much of the Old World. Fossilized remains 1.8 and 1.0 million years old have been found in Africa (e.g., Lake Turkanaand Olduvai Gorge), Europe (Georgia, Spain), Indonesia (e.g., Sangiran and Trinil), Vietnam, and China (e.g., Shaanxi).

Neanderthal: Also spelled Neandertal, is an extinct member of the Homo genus that is known from Pleistocene specimens found in Europe and parts of western and central Asia. Neanderthals are either classified as a subspecies of humans (Homo sapiens neanderthalensis) or as a separate species (Homo neanderthalensis). The first proto-Neanderthal traits appeared in Europe as early as 600,000–350,000 years ago. Proto-Neanderthal traits are occasionally grouped to another phenetic ‘species’, Homo heidelbergensis, or a migrant form, Homo rhodesiensis. By 130,000 years ago, complete Neanderthal characteristics had appeared. These characteristics then disappeared in Asia by 50,000 +- years ago, and in Europe by 25,000 to 30,000 years ago.

Below added 01-23-2011
“A team of biologists has reported that in the first detailed genetic analysis of the Neanderthal genome, they have found evidence that Neanderthals mated with some modern humans and left their imprint in the human genome

The biologists were led by Svante Paabo of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. By comparing the Neanderthal genome with those of various present day humans, the team concluded that about 1 percent to 4 percent of the genome of non-Africans today is derived from Neanderthals.” From: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/science/07neanderthal.html

Humans/Homo sapiens: are bipedal primates (Latin: “wise man” or “knowing man”) in Hominidae, the great ape family. They are the only surviving members of the genus Homo. Humans have a highly developed brain, capable of abstract reasoning, language, introspection, and problem solving. This mental capability, combined with an erect body carriage that frees the arms for manipulating objects, has allowed humans to make far greater use of tools than any other species. Mitochondrial DNA and fossil evidence indicates thatmodern humans originated in Africa about 200,000 years ago.

500,000: The Peking Man Site, excavations in the early1920’s revealed evidence of human habitation from 500,000 to perhaps 680,000 years ago. The cave was excavated from 1927-37 yielding 200 human fossils (from 40 individuals) Homo erectus, more than 10,000 pieces of stoneware, several cinder layers indicating fire use in early man, as well as animal fossils from 200 separate species.

200,000 BC: Humans are bipedal primates belonging to the species Homo sapiens in Hominidae, the great ape family. They are the only surviving members of the genus Homo. Humans have a highly developed brain, capable of abstract reasoning, language, introspection, and problem solving. This mental capability, combined with an erect body carriage that frees the arms for manipulating objects, has allowed humans to make far greater use of tools than any other species. Mitochondrial DNA and fossil evidence indicates that modern humans originated in Africa about 200,000 years ago. Evidence from archaeogenetics accumulating since the 1990s has lent strong support to the “out-of-Africa” scenario, and has marginalized the competing multi-regional hypothesis, which proposed that modern humans evolved, at least in part, from independent hominid populations.

75,000-72,000 BC
Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia is the location of the largest volcanic eruption in the history of the world. Eruptions have occurred in 840,000 BC, 700,000 BC, and 75,000+- BC. The 75,000 eruption ejected 2,800 Km3. of matter Discovery of common stone tools at Jwakapuram in southern India were discovered above and below the ash deposited as a result of Toba. Possibility that this volcano eruption drove down the population of the earth to about 10,000 humans…one of two bottle-necks in our prehistoric history.

50,000 years ago: Around 50,000 years ago there was a marked increase in the diversity of human artifacts. For the first time in Africa, bone artifacts and art appear in the archeological record. The first evidence of human fishing is also noted, from artifacts in places such as Blombos cave in South Africa. Firstly among the artifacts of Africa, archeologists found they could differentiate and classify those of less than 50,000 years into many different categories, such as projectile points, engraving tools, knife blades, and drilling and piercing tools.

These new stone-tool types have been described as being distinctly differentiated from each other, as if each tool had a specific purpose. 3,000 to 4,000 years later, this tool technology spread with people migrating to Europe. The new technology generated a population explosion of modern humans and possibly led to the extinction of the Neanderthals. The invaders, commonly referred to as the Cro-Magnons, left many sophisticated stone tools, cave art and Venus figurines wherever they went Adapted from Wikipedia…03-03-2011

45000 BC; in Bryan Sykes’ The Seven Daughters of Eve, the ‘clan mother’ of Haplogroup U lives in Central Greece.

43,000–41,000 BC: At Ksar Akil in Lebanon, ornaments and skeletal remains of modern humans are dated to this period.

40,000+- BC: By this time migration out of Africa that started about 85,000 BC had Modern Homo-sapiens spread all over Europe, the Middle East,Asia, Africa, and Australia

40,000+-BC: British scientist find footprints in an abandoned quarry in Central Mexico close to the Cerro Toluquilla volcano. A multinational team of scientists subsequently studied and dated the site. Added 12-26-2011

32000 BC: Europeans understand how to harden clay figures by firing them in an oven at high temperatures.

30000 BC: Invention of the bow and arrow.

30000 BC: end of the Mousterian Pluvial in North Africa

30000 BC–26000 BC: Lion-Human, from Hohlenstein-Stadel, Germany created. It is now in Ulmer Museum, Ulm, Germany.

30,000–20,000 BC

29,000–25,000 BC: Venus of Dolní Věstonice. It is the oldest known ceramic in the world. The Red Lady of Paviland lived around 29-26,000 years ago, recent evidence has come to light the he was a tribal Chieftan.

22000 BC–21000 BC: Venus of Willendorf, Austria, was made. It is now at Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna.

20000 BC: end of the second Mousterian Pluvial in North Africa.

20,000–15,000 BC

18000 BC-15000 BC: Last glacial period. Mean Sea Levels are believed to be 110 to 120 meters (361 to 394 ft) lower than present, with the direct implication that many coastal and lower riverine valley archaeological sites of interest are today under water.

18000 BC: In The Seven Daughters of Eve, the ‘clan mother’ of Haplogroup H lives in Southern France.

16500 BC: Paintings in Cosquer cave, where the cave mouth is now under water at Cap Margiou, France were made.

15000 BC In The Seven Daughters of Eve, the ‘clan mother of Haplogroup V lives in Northern Spain, while the ‘clan mother’ of Haplogroup T lives in the Tuscany region of Central Italy.

16,000–12,000 BC

15000 BC-12000 BC: Pregnant woman and deer (?), from Laugerie-Basse, France was made. It is now at Musee des Antiquites Nationales, St.-Germain-en-Laye.

14000 BC: Paleo-Indians searched for big game near what is now the Hovenweep National Monument.

14000 BC: Bison, on the ceiling of a cave at Altamira, Spain, is painted. Discovered in 1879. Accepted as authentic in 1902.

14000 BC: Domestication of Reindeer.

13000 BC In The Seven Daughters of Eve, the ‘clan mother of Haplogroup K lives in the Veneto Region of Northern Italy.

13000 BC: Beginning of the Holocene extinction event.

13000 BC: Ice Age ends in Japan.

12,000–11,000 BC

12000 BC: The American Southwest has long been occupied by hunter/gatherers and agricultural people. This area, identified with the current states of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada, and areas of northern Mexico, has seen successive prehistoric cultural traditions since approximately 12,000 years ago. It is likely that both ceramic and irrigation technology were indigenous developments of these cultures. In central Mexico corn/maize was being developed from wild strains of grasses.

11500 BC: Oldest temple complex of the world (Göbekli Tepe in Turkey)

11500 BC–10000 BC: Wooden buildings in South America (Chile)

11000 BC– First pottery vessels (Japan-Jomon culture) NEW 3-16-10 New evidence of pottery in Japan as far back as 18,000 BCE. From Smithsonian Institute

11000 BC: First evidence of human settlement in Argentina.

11000 BC: The Arlington Springs Man dies on the island of Santa Rosa, off the coast of California.

11000 BC: Human remains deposited in caves which are now located off the coast of Yucatan

10,000 BC

10,000 BC: – First cave drawings are made, with war and religious scenes, beginnings of what become storytelling, and morphed into acting.

10,000 BC: – Bottle Gourd is domesticated and used as a carrying vessel.

10,000 BC: – end of the most recent glaciation.

9,500 BC: – There is evidence of harvesting, though not necessarily cultivation, of wild grasses in Asia Minor

9,500 BC: – First building phase of the temple complex at Göbekli Tepe.

9,300 BC: – Figs were apparently cultivated in the Jordan River valley.

7000 BC—Wild horse populations drop in Europe proper; horse disappears from the island of Great Britain, but was never found in Ireland. (Horse & Man, Clutton-Brock) Extinction probably caused by climatic shift, leading to excessively rich spring feed and mass lameness from founder, making them easy prey (Bolich & Ingraham)

7000 BC—English Channel formed.

7000 BC—Neolithic Subpluvial begins in northern Africa

6440 BC ± 25 years—Kurile volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has VEI 7 eruption. It is one of the largest of the Holocene epoch

6250 BC – Eruptions occur in the Indian Heaven Volcanic field located in central Washington State.

8000 BC: Settlement in Franchthi Cave in Peloponnese, Greece, continues. First evidence of seed and animal stocking (lentils, almonds) and obsidian trade with Melos. The settlement was continuously occupied since 20,000 BC and abandoned in 3,000 BC.

7000 BC–6000 BC: Figure from Ain Ghazal, Jordan, was made. It is now in National Museum, Amman, Jordan.

6850–4800 BC: Advanced agriculture and a very early use of pottery by the Sesclo culture in Thessaly, Greece.

6500 BC: Paleolithic period ended. Neolithic period started in China.

6500 BC: Beginning of the Houli culture in China.

6500 BC–5500 BC: Çatalhöyük, Turkey. Inhabitants traded obsidian.

6200 BC: Beginning of the Xinglongwa culture in China.

6000 BC: Beginning of the Cishan culture in China.

6000 BC: First traces of habitation of the Svarthola cave in Norway.

6000 BC: The Mehrgarh culture reaches its height c. 6000 BC. The Mehrgarh site is one of the most important Neolithic sites in the world. It is located in present-day Pakistan (Baluchistan Province).

6000 BC: The entire 6th Millennium was a part of the Holocene climatic optimum (so were the 4th, 5th, and 7th Millennia). This was a warm period also known as the Atlantic period. This period was characterized by minimal glaciation and high sea levels.

6000 BC: The Copper Age comes to the Fertile Crescent. First use of copperin Middle East.

6000 BC: Fully Neolithic agriculture has spread through Anatolia to the Balkans.

6000 BC: Beginning of Neolithic Yangshao culture in south-central China<t.1500 BC>. Somewhere in this expanse of time, they invent the earliest pictographs of Chinese writing.

6000 BC: Equids disappear from the Americas.

6000 BC: Jungle fowl kept in India.

6000 BC: Female figurines holding serpents are fashioned on Crete and may have been associated with water, regenerative power and protection of the home.

5800 BC: The Hosanna Period in Mesopotamia <t. 5500 BC>, with the earliest version of stamp seals.

5760 BC: The volcano Puy-de-Dôme in France erupts.

5677 BC: Cataclysmic volcanic explosion of 12,000-foot (3,700 m) high Mount Mazama creates Oregon’s Crater Lake when the resulting caldera fills with water. With a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 7, it remains the largest single Holocene eruption in history of the Cascade Range.

5600 BC: Beginning of the desertification of North Africa, which ultimately lead to the creation of the Sahara desert. It’s possible this process pushed some natives into migrating to the region of the Nile in the east, thereby laying the groundwork for the rise of Egyptian civilization.

5600 BC: The Red Paint people become established in the region from present-day Labrador to New York.

5509 BC: The Byzantine calendar dates creation to 1 September of this year.

4300 BC: Theta Boötis became the nearest visible star to the celestial North Pole. It remained the closest until 3942 BC when it was replaced by Thuban.

4250–3750 BC: Menhir alignments at Menec, Carnac, France are made.

4200 BC: Date of Mesolithic examples of Naalebinding found in Denmark, marking spread of technology to Northern Europe.

4100–3500 BC: New wave of immigration to Malta from Sicily leads to the Żebbuġ and Mġarr phases, and to the Ġgantija phase of temple builders.4004 BC: God creates our world and Adam and Eve J

4000 BC: Mesopotamia is in the Uruk period, with emerging Sumerian hegemony and development of “proto-cuneiform” writing; Base-60 mathematics, astronomy and astrology, civil law, complex hydrology, the sailboat, potter’s wheel and wheel; the Chalcolithic proceeds into the Early Bronze Age.

3600–3200 BC: Construction of the first temple within the Mnajdra solar temple complex on Malta, containing “furniture” such as stone benches and tables, which set it apart from other European megalith constructions.

3600–3000 BC: Construction of the Ta’ Ħaġrat and Kordin III temples on Malta.

3500 BC: Figures of a man and a woman, from Cernavoda, Romania are made. They are now at National Historical Museum, Bucharest.

3079 BC: Ancient Vietnamese nation of Văn Lang is established by the first Hùng Vương.

3100 BC: First to Fourth dynasty of Kish in Mesopotamia.

3100 BC: Discovery of silver.

3100 BC: The beginnings of Iberian civilizations, arrival to the peninsula dating as far back as 4000 BC.

3044 BC: If you follow Ussher’s Biblical Chronology…Adam died about this time

3000 BC: First pottery in Colombia at Puerto Hormiga (Magdalena), considered one of the first attempts of pottery of the New World First settlement at Puerto Badel (Bolivar).

3000 BC: Sumerian temple of Janna at Eridu erected.

3000 BC: Temple at Al-Ubaid and tome of Mes-Kalam-Dug built near Ur, Chaldea.

2500 BC: Harappan civilization, at its peak, covered an area of around 480,000 km². Its heartland lay in the Indus river valley in Pakistan, but settlements spread as far as the Makran coast, Baluchistan, Afghanistan, eastern Punjab, Kutch and Saurashtra. They included cities like Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Kalibangan, Dholavira, ports like Lothal, Sutkagen-dor and Sotka-koh and numerous villages as well. They used irrigation to farm and constructed cities. The two main cities had sewage systems, bronze, trade tokens (early coins), and hieroglyphs. There were even baths at one of the villages, besides the great baths of brick in each city. Geometry of shrines and altars tends to identify these with the cities of the Yajur Veda: they might easily be a thousand years older than this conservative date. Adapted from Wikipedia.

Note that these ages vary from country to country. Above ages are from the cradle of civilization…middle east, Africa, some parts of the Mediterranean, Turkey. These areas are considered the earliest users of Bronze and Iron.

Milestones in Human Evolution

By 6 +- million years ago:
Early proto humans had evolved upright posture and the ability to walk upright on short legs. Male canine teeth were about equal in size to females’, which indicates a significant shift in social life.

By 3.6 +- million years ago:
Oldest definite early human footprint trails, with footprints of other animals and environmental evidence.

By 2.6 +- million years ago:
Early humans made basic tools and ate meat obtained from large animals.

By 2.5 +- million years ago:
Clear evidence of a double-curved spine, which indicates a shock-absorbing system associated with bipedal walking.

By 1.9 +- million years ago:
Robust hip bone and lengthened thigh bone indicate that human ancestors could walk farther, faster and more easily.

By 1.8 +- million years ago:
Early humans dispersed from Africa to Asia.

By 1.6 +- million years ago:
First major technological innovation. Hand axes are made. Hand-axe technology persists for more than 1.2 million years.

By 800,000 +- years ago:
Early humans had control of fire and created hearths.

At 800,000 +- years ago:
Beginning of the most rapid increase in early human brain size (relative to body size). The fastest pace of brain enlargement took place between 800,000 and 200,000 years ago.

By 500,000 +- years ago:
Evidence of brain enlargement implies considerably prolonged maturation of the young. Early humans hunted large animals.

By 400,000 +- years ago:
Early humans made shelters. Early humans invented wooden thrusting spears.

250,000 +- years ago:
Early humans began to communicate with symbols—with evidence of the oldest known “crayons” (faceted sticks and chunks of pigment).

200,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans (Homo sapiens) evolved in Africa; they gathered and hunted food, like earlier human species. The date of 200,000 years is based on the oldest known H. sapiens crania and the estimated age of convergence (back in time) of all the mitochondrial DNA diversity recorded in living human populations. Three species of early humans overlapped in time with H. sapiens. The other three species became extinct between about 70,000 and 17,000 years ago.

By 164,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans collected and cooked shellfish.

By 160,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans had evolved prolonged periods of childhood growth, as found in people today.

Between 135,000-100,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans temporarily spread beyond Africa. Modern humans made shell beads, the oldest known jewelry.

By 130,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans exchanged resources over long distances.

By 104,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans became capable of capturing fast and dangerous prey.

By 77,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans recorded information on objects. Modern humans became capable of making clothing by perforating hide.

About 74,000 +- years ago: (Mt. Toba eruption probable cause)
Near-extinction of H. sapiens. Greatly reduced population, with numbers estimated at about 10,000 adults of reproductive age to as few as 600. Timing correlates with repeated, large-scale droughts in portions of Africa.

By 70,000 +- years ago:
Homo erectus became extinct.

By 60,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans began a series of permanent worldwide migrations.

By 60,000–40,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans created permanent drawings.

By 50,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans reached Australia.

By 50,000-30,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans reached the Philippines

By 40,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans reached Europe.

By 40,000-35,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans created paintings and figurines.

By 35,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans created musical instruments.

By 30,000–24,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans became capable of making well-fitted clothing using bone needles.

By 28,000 +- years ago:
Neanderthals (H. neanderthalensis) became extinct.

By 26,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans made baskets.

Somewhere in this time zone humans learned to make pottery…probably in China. Very significant for humans.

By 17,000 +- years ago:
H. floresiensis became extinct, leaving modern humans (H. sapiens) as the sole survivors of the once diverse human evolutionary tree.

By 15,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans reached the Americas (by at least this date, possibly earlier).

Beginning 12,000 +- years ago:
Humans become a “turning point” in the history of life as they control the growth and breeding of certain plants and animals. Farming and herding ensue, which transformed natural landscapes—first locally, then globally. Food production led to settlement (villages, towns, cities) and population growth.

By 10,500+- years ago:
First domestication of plants and animals.

By 8,000 +- years ago:
Modern humans use symbols to represent words and concepts. Copper “Traces of metalworking appear as early as 8000 B.C., when people simply cold-hammered native copper. Later, beginning about 6500 B.C., metalworkers improved the hardness of copper by annealing it — heating and then hammering and shaping it. True copper metallurgy began about 5500 B.C., when metalworkers started to smelt (or heat) copper ores to obtain the usable copper. Over the next several thousand years, craftsmen became skillful in the use of other metals, including bronze and gold.” Western Civilization: Origins and Traditions

Between 1959 and 1999:

Human population doubled from 3 billion to 6 billion people in just 40 years.

By 1995:
At least 83 percent of Earth’s land surface had been directly affected by humans.

By 2007:
More humans live in cities than in rural areas.

By 2009/2010:
First evidence of possible Homo-sapiens / Homo-neanderthalis interbreeding. Europe and Asia

When scientists began systematically dating meteorites they learned a very interesting thing: nearly all of the meteorites had practically identical ages, at 4.56 billion years. These meteorites are chips off the asteroids.

Virtual Dating—a very helpful educational course on half-lives and radioactive decay was put together by Gary Novak at California State University in Los Angeles. This site has several interactive web “workbooks” to help the reader understand various concepts involved with radiometric dating.http://vcourseware5.calstatela.edu/VirtualDating

Reasons to Believe—a Christian ministry supporting the old-Earth viewpoint. Dr. Hugh Ross, the founder and head of the ministry, holds a PhD in Astronomy. The ministry supports an accurate interpretation of
the Bible while also supportive of science as a tool to study God’s creation.http://www.reasons.org

American Scientific Affiliation (ASA)—an umbrella organization of Christians in many different areas of the sciences. Most of the members hold an old-Earth view, though membership is open to anyone supporting their positional statement. This website has numerous resources on theology and Bible-science issues.http://www.asa3.org

Affiliation of Christian Geologists (ACG)—an organization of Geologists who are Christians. The ACG is affiliated with the ASA (above).http://www.wheaton.edu/acg

Lord I Believe—a site maintained by Hill Roberts, a self-professed conservative Christian and a Physicist. There is a wealth of information, including presentations on the interpretation of Genesis chapters 1-3, a resource list of apologetics ministries, etc.http://LordIBelieve.org

Faith and Reason Ministries. The ministry webpage of John D. Calahan, a former Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist.http://www.faithreason.org

A review of Phillip Henry Gosse’s Omphalos: An Attempt to Untie the Geological Knot, in which fiat creation with the appearance of age is suggested. Reviewed by Rev. John W. Burgeson.http://www.burgy.50megs.com/omphalos.htm

C-14 Dating—The radiocarbon laboratories at Oxford (England) and Waikato (New Zealand) Universities jointly operate this website which gives very comprehensive information on radiocarbon dating. Portions of it were written specifically for use by K-12 students, so it is easy to understand. The site contains explanations on measurements, applications, calibration, publications, and other areas.http://www.c14dating.com

Books
Radiometric dating textbooks: The following books are popular college-level Geology texts that deal in depth with various dating techniques. Geologic Time is very easy to read and has been around for quite some time. The text by Dalrymple is meant to be relatively easy to read, but is also very comprehensive.
The Faure and Dickin texts are regular textbooks for Geology, including more mathematics and more details.
Dickin, Alan P. (1995) Radiogenic Isotope Geology. Cambridge University Press, 490 pp.

Dalrymple, G. Brent (1991) The Age of the Earth. Stanford University Press, 474 pp.

Other books on dating:
Jespersen, James, and Jane Fitz-Randolph (1996) Mummies, Dinosaurs, Moon Rocks: How We Know How Old Things Are. Atheneum Books, New York, 92 pp. This is a book designed for easy reading on the general subject of dating. This short book covers topics from archeology to tree ring dating to radiocarbon dating of the dead sea scrolls, to dating of
meteorites and moon rocks. The book is out of print, but slightly used copies can be obtained from online dealers like Amazon.

Wagner, Günther A. (1998) Age Determination of Young Rocks and Artifacts. Springer-Verlag, New York, 466 pp. [Translated from the original Altersbestimmung von jungen Gesteinen und Artefakten,
Ferdinand Enke Verlag, Stuttgart, 1995]
This book is a quite comprehensive reference on all methods for determining dates less than about a million years old. It includes a large amount of information on archeological dating, and describes more methods than are discussed here, including TL, ESR, racemization, fluorine/uranium/nitrogen uptake, cosmic-ray exposure-age, fission track, radiocarbon, and others.

Books on scripture, theology, and science:
Snoke, David (1998) A Biblical Case for an Old Earth. Interdisciplinary Biblical Research Institute (IBRI), Hatfield, PA, 76 pp.
Dr. Snoke, an elder in the Presbyterian Church (PCA) and a Physics professor, presents a strong
case for a geologically old Earth. He addresses typical objections brought up by young-Earth
adherents, including the death of animals before Adam and Eve’s sin, entropy (or decay) before the fall, the six days of creation, and the flood.

Sailhamer, John (1996) Genesis Unbound. Multnomah Books, Sisters, OR, 257 pp.
This is a very readable theological book about Genesis. Dr. Sailhamer has served on the translation committees for two versions of the book of Genesis. He has taught at Bethel Seminary, Philadelphia College of the Bible, Trinitiy Evangelical Divinity School, Northwestern College, and Western Seminary.

Hugh Ross has a PhD in Astronomy. In this book Dr. Ross defends modern science and an old age for the universe, and refutes common young-Earth arguments. He firmly believes in the inerrancy of the Bible.

Stoner, Don (1992) A New Look at an Old Earth. Schroeder, Paramount, CA, 191 pp.
A persuasive book written for the Christian layman. Stoner uses arguments both from the theological and the scientific side. He talks somewhat philosophically about whether God deceives us with the Genesis account if the Earth is really old. Stoner also tries to discuss the meaning of the Genesis 1 text.

Van Till Howard J., Young Davis A., and Menninga Clarence (1988) Science Held Hostage. InterVarsity, Downers Grove, IL, 189 pp. This book talks about the misuse of science by both hard-line atheists and by young-Earth creationists. A good deal of the book is devoted to refuting young-Earth arguments, including a substantial section on the Grand Canyon geology. Its authors are well-known Christians in Geology and Physics.

Wiester, John (1983) The Genesis Connection. Interdisciplinary Biblical Research Institute, Hatfield, PA, 254 pp. John Wiester has taught Geology at Westmont and Biola University, and is active in the American Scientific Affiliation, an organization of scientists who are Christians. This book discusses many scientific discoveries relating to the age of the Earth and how these fit into the context of Genesis 1.

Young, Davis A. (1982) Christianity and the Age of the Earth. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI (now
available through Artisan Sales, Thousand Oaks, CA).

Davis Young has a PhD in Geology and teaches at Calvin College. He argues for an old Earth and
refutes many of the common young-Earth claims (including their objections to radiometric dating).

The science behind radiocarbon dating and the other 40 or so methods is settled in the science community, there are no doubts that it works. The only people disputing the methods are “Young Earth Creationists” and they apparently don’t have the brainpower to understand what is going on. The town I live in has one of the premier age dating labs in the country and the no.1 tree ring research facility in the world…I know people in both, and I understand and accept the science and the very accomplished scientists who practice it in these labs.

35 Responses to Human Prehistoric Timeline

Its amazing……….. Really wonderful content. Its really mind-boggling to know the formation of our mother earth and the evolution of life. My salutations to the GREAT NATURE and prayers to keep everything in peace & harmony.

Hominid BONE FOSSILS in Kutch‏, and fossilised river bed ripples can be used to work out the direction of ancient river flows‏.

Dear EDITORIALS, Friends of the Science, History, palaeontology and Geology,

Recent interest of geologists to investigate the origin of life and human origin in Kutch: After long discussions (see below attached mail contents) and with a joint expeditions with experience retired palaeontologists, some geologist are convinced to do further research in this matter that KUTCH is not only a JURASSIC time land but also existed well before in the pre Jurassic time as well. As well as Human origin can be traced back to 4-5 million years back in Kutch.

Dr Sringarpure, a retired palaeontologist when visited Kutch in 2007 and joined me to expedition in Khatrod Hill range. He also desired to visit Hominid foot print area and Fossilised River areas in Gangeshwar dome region. BUT time was not permitting and dark is not worth attempting as day light is essential for such study expeditions. During his last visit to Kutch he expressed his desire for further investigation in this matter again.

Rivers of Kutch: – We believe that ancient rivers of Kutch are what we see them to days. But in reality it is not the Fact. Those rivers are formed later when main land of Kutch was come out of the waters of the sea. But there are some older rivers of the main land of the KUTCH which are fossilised after the main land of the KUTCH has gone down the water of sea.

The direction of fossilised river bed ripples can be used to work out the direction of ancient river flows. Dating can be done through stratigraphy and analysis of zircon fission tracks. Seismic sensing allows probing of the crust. Direct measurement of the amount of folding tells us whether compression alone can explain the uplift of the Hills of the Gangeshwar dome area.

River was flowing from north to south to wards the Arabic sea from the North plains of Khatrod Hill range to the south – when there was no KHATROD hill formation (pre Jurassic) and was sea water south of the Khatrod region in the PRE JURASSIC times. (This geological time study for KUTCH has not been done before as it was believed that Kutch did not exist before pre Jurassic times as Cambrian fossils are not abundant in Kutch) Else, why the fossilised river flow was indicative of river flow to south is found layers below JURASSIC marine fossils?

Upper layers are holding clues of Jurassic sea fossils and also Decomposed LAND wood fossils, suggesting that after a Jurassic period again Land of Kutch Has gone down to sea water and what we sea today is the Latest land of dome came out of the sea after Jurassic time. (MANY wood fossils have been collected and Plenty are in abundance in hills of Kharod)

Chronological process of Prints on mud of that river bank are also fossilised:

During the water flow (present fossilised River of Gangeshwar) river bank of river side was Muddy and prints on the Mud are preserved in mud, dried and hardened. Dried river bed ripples are also dried and hardened. Later Covered with dust and sand and river area has gone down the sea water with tectonic activity. Further sedimentary layers are deposited.

With the further tectonic activity Land came out of the sea waters and formed the new hill range. As weathering effect superficial younger soft layers have been washed away and old hardened fossilised layers become bare to visible.

As further weathering effects parts of exposed layer which are pressed hard with pressure of creature walks, Had compact granules and more harder than the rest of the part, And well preserved AGAINST these weather effects and soft feeling dust layers – softly packed fossilised feeling of such prints are washed earlier to expose clear views of exposed prints of creature’s foot prints. And many a times we sea a honeycomb appearance and weathering effect of fossilised layers.

Hominid Foot prints found in older layers may have been formed later in the geological process but the study of Photomicrographs and infrared photography is required so that to eliminate that there were no signs of carving or artificial markings in or around the prints. A study of microscopic count of sand grains is also required so indicating that the material within the prints had been impacted, and created as the result of a force pressing down on the firmament while it was soft.

These facts show that the prints were made by the natural result of pressure from the human foot, and in no way could have been duplicated by carving nor only the phenomena of honeycomb appearance as the study of Photomicrographs and infrared photography can differentiate the compact sand particles under the pressure points which are not in honeycomb pattern appearance.

Many geologists and palaeontologists do visit with curiosity of the specimen and the subject but have no background of study of Photomicrographs and infrared photography and its geological/paleontological applications so do not have any clue or chance to study those subjects in that angle of research. Unfortunately lack of recourses and facility for such a research.

Other fossil layers: Land has become a vegetative land and trees and forest has grown in the area. Land has gone down to sea water again and as a result we get sea water animal fossils of different young age time.

Phase Two Fossils: Burroughs Conjecture

The most cogent explanation of anomalous fossil footprints is perhaps offered by Dr. William Greely Burroughs, of Berea College in Kentucky. Dr. Burroughs conjecture is that a depression in fossil-bearing rock may, long after the original fossils have been formed, be filled with a sediment that in its turn may also become the medium in which the impression of a footprint or the body of a creature is fossilized. When this second period of fossilization is complete the newly formed rock may be indistinguishable from the older formation, and the new fossils may appear to have formed at the same time as those which are much older. Thus, several fossilization processes may wind up looking like a footprint made at the same time. This is undoubtedly the case in many instances, but the theory is lacking in several respects. Firstly, fossilized human footprints have been found deep within rocks that show no evidence of discontinuous formation, not just at the junction of sedimentary layers. Secondly, out of place fossils are often inconsistent not only with the ages of associated fossils but also with the rock strata and the age conventionally ascribed to them.

HUMAN BONE FOSSILS and differentiation from rest of animal kingdom bone fossils: – We have sample fossil of part of the of Human Ulna bone. But that’s not sufficient to claim the Human evolution in Kutch. We need to make sufficient research for the differentiations of fossilised bones of hominid and animals (Apes). We need to search more and particularly for skull or face bones, to come to conclusion of Hominid evolution in Kutch.

Great site. Thank you very much for this.
Could you help to clear something up for me?
In school I was told that Peking man was discovered in what is now Indonesia.
Your site says that Peking man is 5 million years old,does that mean he evolved in Africa and travelled to Asia over 5,000,000 years ago.
How does this fit with comment that early humans left Africa about 1,800,000 years ago.
Was Peking man human? and when was the first bipedal migration from Africa?
I would very much appreciate clarification on this if you have the time.
Kind regards
Chris

Hello Chris Johnston, I’m very glad you visited my blog and found this BIG mistake of mine.

Not only a mistaken date, but a failure to write clearly enough to show that Peking Man and Java Man are now known to be the same (Homo-erectus) found in different geographical locations and strata. I can only guess where I got the five million years…either a dumb-ass not rechecking of data and dates or seeing the 500,000 number from below and mistakenly transcribing 5,000,000 or just simple carelessness. Most common date for Homo-erectus is now 2,000,000 to 400,000 YA with the older dates coming from Africa of course.

Peking Man, also called Sinanthropus pekinensis (currently Homo erectus pekinensis), is an example of Homo erectus. A group of fossil specimens was discovered in 1923-27 during excavations at Zhoukoudian near Beijing, China. More recently, the finds have been dated from roughly 500,000 years ago, although a new * (26Al/10Be) dating suggests they may be as much as 680,000-780,000 years old.

“The first specimens of Homo erectus had been found in Java in 1891 by Eugene Dubois, but were dismissed by many as the remains of a deformed ape. The discovery of the great quantity of finds at Zhoukoudian put this to rest and Java Man, who had initially been named Pithecanthropus erectus, was transferred to the genus Homo along with ** Peking Man.”

* The chronological position of Peking Man, or Homo erectus pekinensis, has long been pursued, but has remained problematic due to lack of a suitable dating method1-7. Here we report cosmogenic 26Al/ 10Be burial dating of quartz sediments and artifacts from the lower strata of Zhoukoudian Locality 1 where the remains of early members of the Peking Man family were discovered. This study marks the first radioisotopic dating of any early hominine site in China beyond the range of mass spectrometric U-series dating. The weighted mean of six meaningful measurements, 0.75 +/-; 0.09 (0.11) Ma (million years), provides the best age estimate for lower cultural Layers 7-10. Together with previously reported U-series3 and paleomagnetic4 data, as well as sedimentological considerations8, 9 these layers may be further correlated to S6-S7 in Chinese loess stratigraphy or marine isotope stages 17-18, in the range of ~0.68-0.75 Ma. These ages are substantially older than previously supposed and may imply hominine presence in northern China throughout early Middle Pleistocene climate cycles.
From Nature: http://precedings.nature.com/documents/2275/version/1

** Melvin, Sheila (October 11, 2005). “Archaeology: Peking Man, still missing and missed”. International Herald Tribune. http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/10/features/melvin.php. “The discovery also settled a controversy as to whether the bones of Java Man – found in 1891 – belonged to a human ancestor. Doubters had argued that they were the remains of a deformed ape, but the finding of so many similar fossils at Dragon Bone Hill silenced such speculation and became a central element in the modern interpretation of human evolution.”

I will be correcting the data above in the article soon and I want to thank you again for your alertness and for taking the time to write to me. twom

Very interesting long known being rehabbed neolithic site on Cyprus. Family huts with domed roofs, cobble stone connecting walkway.
it seems incontrovertible to me that a high population, hence self divided into the high intelligence which only seems to need a long statis of time interval to develop, existed all over the globe. What we see in these ‘puzzling’ high tech neolithic villages all over the globe (Stupe valley in Lima Peru over 10,000 yo) is the result of that high tech part recovering sufficiently from a global catastrophe to begin functioning in independent units.
Now with perhaps another electromagnetic embrace from Fluff (see NASA) we may be experiencing another global reshaping.

Thanks for this interesting information. There has been a farm found in eastern Scotland dating c4000 BCE. Read about it at Archaeology Daily News at least a year ago. These folks kept cattle, sheep and pigs, and raised a few grain crops.

Very good information. I would like to see more precambrian information if you have it, and in specific I am trying to see if there are any theories of more than on “Pangea” which may have existed. While the precambrian time existed about 88% of Earths history, there seems very little reference to theory in this area… Great resource. Very awesome. Thanks for your hard work.

Over 294, 000 served

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